A stuffy nose is very much annoying. We can hardly concentrate on anything when we are down with a stuffy nose. Your nose is just runny and drippy that you can hardly breathe. It is a general perception that stuffy nose happens as a result of too much mucus in your nasal passages however that is not the truth. A stuffy nose is a result of inflamed blood vessels in the sinuses. The blood vessels in the sinuses are disturbed due to a cold, flu or a sinus infection usually.
Here are some amazing remedies to get rid of stuffy nose.-
Shower: – A steamy shower can help you deal through this situation. When you take a shower, the steam from the shower helps in thinning out the mucous in the nose and sinuses thus reducing the inflammation. The result of which will make you help in breathing normally. You can also go for a steam inhalation instead.
Saline spray: – A nasal saline spray helps in increasing the moisture in the nasal passages. This spray thins out the mucous in the nasal passages that decreases the inflammation of the blood vessels and helps in emptying the fluids. Saline sprays are easily available too.
Hydration a must: – Make sure that the body is always hydrated. Keep up the fluid flowing with any kind of liquid, be it tea, soup, juice etc. This will help in thinning the mucus in the nasal passages, which will decrease the pressure in the sinuses thus pushing the fluids off the nose.
A warm compress: – A warm compress is also a good option for stuffy nose. Soak a towel in warm water, Squeeze out the excess water and then fold it and place it on the face. The heat will provide respite from all the pain and the warmth and will help in relieving some of the inflammation in the nasal passages. You can keep doing this many times to get relief.
Neti Pot: – The neti pot has been used from a long time in India. This is a gentle as well as an effective way of clearing the nasal passages of the mucus and allergens. Through this method, the salt water delivered to the nose helps to start relieving congestion. To do this fill the neti pot with a saline solution comprising of warm water and salt, then the spout of the pot has to be inserted in one nostril and at that time your head needs to be tilted to the other side. This allows the solution to flow into the nasal passage and then come out of the other nostril. The saline solution for this process should be made from a pharmaceutical grade salt.
Steam: Inhaling steam is the best cure for stuffy nose. Take some boiling water and add a few drops of peppermint oil or some Vicks VapoRub in the boiling water. Now, inhale the steam of this water at least 2-3 times a day.
Peppermint tea: – Peppermint has menthol which will help in thinning out the mucus and also to open up the nasal passages. There peppermint tea consumption during such times is highly recommended. Peppermint tea along with the effect of menthol, steam and the warmth of the tea will all together speed up the process of clearing the stuffy nose.